I lift my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
She glanced over at me, bouncing a toddler on my hip, and said, “You must be so patient.” I raised my eyebrows as a little boy ran a Tonka truck over my foot. We stood on the nursery playground together during the morning church service.
I laughed. Ummm…no, I thought. Not so patient.
Do you find yourself wondering where other mamas get the energy and patience to keep going every day? You watch them in wonder, seemingly perfect in their wrinkle-free dress, flyaway-free hair fixed just right? There you stand with your own shoes, slightly scuffed from the toddler standing on them earlier. You’re a few flyaway hairs short of a scarecrow and is that a Cheerio on the back of your neck? You’re here, though. You showed up.
And then someone comments on how tired you look.
Thanks, pal.
This verse from Psalm 121, reminding me where my help comes from is my lifeline to sanity. Years ago, I jotted the verse on a 3×5 card and taped it to my bathroom mirror where it still is, water droplets and all. Every morning, I read it before going outside, lifting my eyes to the mountains farmlands, and reminding the Lord my help comes from him. (Just in case he forgets.)
Honestly, there are days I’d rather throw a tantrum if it meant someone would actually listen to me than patiently and deeply breathe before asking the Lord for help. But raising our voices and a ruckus doesn’t solve anything, so choosing patience and peacefulness is usually the best response.
Patience isn’t something we acquire overnight. It’s years of taking opportunities of trials and turning them into tender moments. All those times your kid writes on the wall or scratches your brand new van with a rock or spills their glass of milk for the umpteenth time are all opportunities to grow in patience.
We can react in anger or respond in love.
Choose the latter, my friend.
And the only way we can do that is with the Lord’s help. So on those days when frustration abounds and you’re at your wit’s end, lift your eyes to the mountains (or the skies) from where our help comes from. Our help comes from the Lord, maker of Heaven and earth.
I needed this read. Thank you!
This is a perfect reminder for all parents. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you!
I really needed this today. I didn’t sleep last night thanks to the little man and I just feel so defeated. I needed to hear this.
Oh man, I know those sleepless nights too well. Here’s to another week, a rest-filled week. Thank you!
Yes, sometimes I have to remind myself that anger rarely solves the problem at hand!
Right?!?! 🙂 Thank you.
This is some that takes mass amounts of practice! But you’re right, it’s always the better choice even when we fall short of it…
It does take practice. Since we had our first daughter ten years ago, I’ve seen both my husband and I grow in patience but obviously, that means LOTS of opportunities to practice. We fell short many times but I’m so thankful for forgiveness! Thank you.
I need to practice. Do I get a pretend run through before the real thing? haha Seriously good word!
omword, that made me LOL! Thanks! 🙂
This is so true. I love the phrase “You do you best and God will do the rest!”
I love that! Thanks!
Such a great reminder! My daughter is in a teething phase where she throws toys on the ground when she gets mad, and I stepped outside myself today and remembered to hold back my anger. It worked out so much better than yelling!
Oh man, I remember those days and how often I had to step away, myself. Way to go, mama!
So true! I love this! And I’m really not a fan of people telling me I look tired!!
I know, right?!?! How rude! lol
This was such an encouragement. I know that I am not the only one out there that feels like I walk around with the weight of the world on my face.
With Love Rochelle
ONLY with God am I able to be a mostly patient mother. But there are days I’m extra tired and not so slow to anger…Lord be with me and give me grace. I love my babies and mama needs a nap!! 🙂 Thanks for this reminder!!
This is just beautiful. And exactly what I needed this morning. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Eryn! So glad it encouraged you. <3
Totally what I needed to hear today!!
What a beautiful scripture to start the day with every day! And, yes, it’s so easy to look around at all the other moms who seem to have it together and criticize ourselves. But the truth is we all have good moments and bad moments, strengths and weaknesses, but through the Lord we can be forgiven of our failings and become more than we have strength to be on our own. Thanks for the reminder.